The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) said on 13 December 2025 that Switzerland is “in the midst of a strong Covid-19 wave”, with hospitals in Zurich, Vaud and Ticino activating surge plans. Although no blanket entry restrictions are foreseen, the agency urged vulnerable people to avoid crowded trains and advised international visitors to check insurance coverage for potential isolation.
Current dominant variants carry mutations allowing partial immune escape, leading to a rise in reinfections. Hospital bed occupancy reached 87 % nationwide, prompting cantons to consider re-introducing mask mandates on regional public transport—an option already taken in Basel trams and buses.
Amid these uncertainties, travellers may also need to double-check entry paperwork such as visas and residence permits. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) provides a fast, self-service tool for confirming whether you need a visa, gathering the required documents and arranging courier submission—especially handy if sudden rule changes shorten your preparation window.
![Swiss Health Authorities Warn of Covid Surge, Advise Travellers to Reconsider Holiday Itineraries]()
For global mobility managers the key issue is absence risk: assignees who test positive must still adhere to canton-specific isolation guidelines (usually five days). Employers should review sick-leave policies, remote-work contingencies and access to telemedicine in English.
Travel insurers report a spike in inquiries for “cancel-for-any-reason” upgrades on flights routed through Geneva and Zurich over Christmas. Airlines continue to waive change fees but not fare differences, meaning proactive rebooking can save costs if hospital pressure triggers late-stage local restrictions.
The FOPH will reassess the epidemiological situation on 20 December. Multinationals are advised to monitor canton websites and prepare employee communications on testing locations and health-pass apps that some event organisers have started to resurrect.
Current dominant variants carry mutations allowing partial immune escape, leading to a rise in reinfections. Hospital bed occupancy reached 87 % nationwide, prompting cantons to consider re-introducing mask mandates on regional public transport—an option already taken in Basel trams and buses.
Amid these uncertainties, travellers may also need to double-check entry paperwork such as visas and residence permits. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) provides a fast, self-service tool for confirming whether you need a visa, gathering the required documents and arranging courier submission—especially handy if sudden rule changes shorten your preparation window.
For global mobility managers the key issue is absence risk: assignees who test positive must still adhere to canton-specific isolation guidelines (usually five days). Employers should review sick-leave policies, remote-work contingencies and access to telemedicine in English.
Travel insurers report a spike in inquiries for “cancel-for-any-reason” upgrades on flights routed through Geneva and Zurich over Christmas. Airlines continue to waive change fees but not fare differences, meaning proactive rebooking can save costs if hospital pressure triggers late-stage local restrictions.
The FOPH will reassess the epidemiological situation on 20 December. Multinationals are advised to monitor canton websites and prepare employee communications on testing locations and health-pass apps that some event organisers have started to resurrect.
